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What Is The Difference Between Spirituality And Religion

by | Sep 13, 2021 | Archetypes, Dr. Pillai | 0 comments

Religion – Meaning and Definition

A Religion is a system of belief based on the belief in a god or gods and the activities connected with this.

The followers of a religion believe, worship, and stay obedient to a supernatural power or powers considered divine or control human destiny.

Characteristics of Religion

Certain things characterize a religion. Some of the main characteristics that define religion are below.

  • Believe in the supernatural
  • A list of sacred places and times
  • Ritual behaviour is determined by sacred things, place, and time
  • Moral code of supernatural origin
  • Typical religious feeling
  • Prayer and other forms of communication
  • A social group related to the above.

List of Major religions

The world’s religious population accounts for 83% of the global population. A significant amount of these people falls under the twelve classical religions listed below in alphabetical order.

  • Baha’i
  • Buddhism
  • Christianity
  • Confucianism
  • Hinduism
  • Islam
  • Jainism
  • Judaism
  • Shinto
  • Sikhism
  • Taoism
  • Zoroastrianism

Spirituality – Meaning and Definition

Spirituality refers to a sense of connection to something bigger than ourselves, and it typically involves a search for meaning in life. It is the state of having a relationship to God or the spirit world.

Characteristics of Spirituality

The following are the main characteristics of Spirituality

1. Being aware of the Self.

2. Acquire positive qualities like peace, joy, and unconditional love.

3. Focusing on Non-Physical goals.

The Difference between Religion and Spirituality

The six primary differences between religion and Spirituality are below

1. Spirituality is sans rules

Unlike following a specific ideology or a set of rules, Spirituality allows you to follow your heart, encouraging you to listen to your intuition and do what is necessary. Suitable for you and the people around you.

It frees you to be the best you can be, a good person without punishment or reward promise. The reward is just your inner happiness.

2. Spirituality is based only on love, not fear

Many fears are scattered throughout the religion—fear of the consequences of your actions, fear of death, and many more.

Well, Spirituality is only loving. It encourages you to concentrate all your energy on the good and act only based on love.

Any choice made out of fear is not suitable for your soul. Although decisions made out of love will empower you, make you braver, and nourish your soul.

It tells you how to stand up in fear and how to continue to do what you think is right under the possible consequences.

3. Religion tells you the truth: Spirituality allows you to discover it

Unlike the religious texts, which tell you how the universe came into being and why we are here, Spirituality will enable you to find these questions and answers.

It enables you to find your truth in all things and does not limit the depth of your understanding of all things.

4. Religious separation, spiritual unity

In our world, there are many religions, and they all preach that their history is correct.

Spirituality sees the truth in all people and unites them because, despite our differences and uniqueness, the truth is the same for all people.

It focuses on the quality of the sacred information they share rather than the differences in the details of the stories they tell.

5. The difference between karma and punishment

Spirituality does not talk about punishment or the threat of hell, only karma. It is the law of attraction: you get what you give.

6. Tread in your path

Unlike ancient stories about angels and gods, Spirituality encourages you to follow your path and create your own story. It motivates you to believe in your own heart and follow it however you want.

7. Spirituality is Chosen

Religion is an institution established by man for various reasons. An organized, structured religions all but remove God from the equation. Spirituality is born in a person and develops in the person. A religion may kick-start it, or a revelation may kick-start it. Spirituality extends to all facets of a person’s life. Spirituality is chosen, while religion is often forced.

8. Spirituality is defined by God

The rules and practices of religion are determined by People. Spirituality, on the other hand, is defined by God himself. Since religion is man-defined, religion is a manifestation of the flesh. But Spirituality, as defined by God, is a manifestation of his nature.

Spirituality is something that is found deep within oneself. It is your way of loving, accepting, and relating to the world and people around you. When you understand the true meaning of religion it is spirituality.

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